NC's March unemployment rate drops to 9.2 percent

Published: Friday, April 19, 2013 at 10:52 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 19, 2013 at 10:52 a.m.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's unemployment rate fell to 9.2 percent in March from February's rate of 9.4 percent.

The state Commerce Department on Friday released data showing that although the number of people unemployed fell by nearly 12,000 between February and March, the number of people with jobs also dropped over the month by nearly 11,000.

The national unemployment rate fell to 7.6 percent in March from February's 7.7 percent.

This year has seen the unemployment rate bob up and down in part because thousands of people are deciding to join the competition for jobs or give up.

In February, more than 11,000 workers were suddenly no longer working or looking for work, a big factor in the slight jobless rate drop.

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